15/07/2024 Old Perth

Old Perth 41yo 1977/2018 (45.3%, Morrison & MacKay, Sherry Butt, 515b): a blended malt that allegedly contains Macallan and Highland Park. What could go wrong? Nose: holy molly! This certainly has the depth one would expect of something carrying such an age statement. In no particular order, we spot varnished antique furniture, glue in a shoemaker's workshop, drinks cabinets, some kind of polish (a blend of shoe-, furniture- and nail polishes, I reckon, with a spray of windscreen cleaner), and even some cured fruits -- namely berries of sorts. Those berries go from bright red (redcurrants) to deep purple (blueberries and blackberries) in less than a minute, and settle for warm cranberry or blackberry compote, or jelly. It also has a faint whisper of bitter plant stems masquerading as lacquered wood. As one tilts the glass, professional shampoo glides out, the scent that can be smelled at so many hairdressers'. The second nose has burnt caramel, slowly drying. Over time, a gentle apricot jam comes forward, augmented with a dollop of hazelnut cream. Mouth: it has a certain refreshing bitterness, part succulent-plant stem, part shampoo again. I find nothing negative to say about the latter; others might. Crushed cinnamon bark, stem ginger, more of that warm berry jelly from the nose, and older wood upon chewing. Indeed, we have propolis, and oiled bookshelves, ancient, yet in optimal condition. The second sip is consistent with the above. It is well punchy too, and one rejoices at the non-dilution. Subsequent sipping confirms the propolis impression. Finish: here too, it is astoundingly fresh, as if augmented with mint (augminted, surely). Very little bitterness subsists, and the wood, growing on the palate, is now receding. The second gulp is creamy, and a cinnamon-y profile becomes clearer: cinnamon yoghurt, cinnamon custard, cinnamon-enhanced butter cream -- that sort of things. It has just enough ginger powder to tickle the gums, almost like toothpaste. Cinnamon-flavoured toothpaste. Now there's a business idea! Yum! 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, WhiskyLovingPianist)